
Basil Seeds
How To Grow
Sowing/Planting Seeds Indoors
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Basil’s main requirement is plenty of sunshine, so best to plant them indoors in Ireland
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Sow using bean tin with holes punched in the base for drainage (or empty toilet/halved kitchen paper roll, a small yoghurt/plastic container or similar with holes punched in the bottom for drainage).
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Place soil (e.g. compost) in container, scatter a few seeds in each container and cover with less than 1 cm of soil and gently press down on top of the soil.
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Water gently (e.g. to water can use a plastic bottle with small holes punched in the bottle top)
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Seeds should germinate within approx. 2 weeks.
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Best to water in the early morning and ensure that the soil doesn’t dry out.
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After 4 - 5 true leaves have emerged approx. 5 weeks after sowing (note the first leaves to appear once a seed germinates (typically 1/2 leaves) are called cotyledons, and provide nutrients to the seed until the plants first true leaves grow) transplant the seedlings into a larger growing pot with fresh soil ( e.g. compost), allowing each seedling 10cm
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With the back of a pen (or similar) make a small 1 - 2cm diameter hole in the soil and place the seedling in. Gently press the soil in around the seedling.
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Water gently.
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Ensure soil doesn’t dry out.
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Locate pot in a sunny, warm place (e.g. windowsill that gets sunshine)
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To encourage growth and deter pests, feed every 4 – 6 weeks with organic fertiliser (e.g. dried milled seaweed fertiliser, sachets available on sow.ie)
Growing Time:
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Approx. 8 – 10 weeks
Harvest
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Pick or cut off leaves from the top of the plant (leaving stem) to enjoy once plant is hardy and has quite a few leaves
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Don’t over-harvest – leave time between harvests to allow plant to recover and continue growing
Tip: If flowers appear, cut them off straight away to allow the plant to focus on growing leaves